Hone Harawira Has a Point

The Old Has Passed Away

Hone Harawira--Maori Party MP--is widely known for his racist views. His coarse public ranting against "whitey" has got him into trouble more than once. His deeply tattooed, narcissistic idea of Maori being the victims of a white injustice which continues to this day is self-destructive. Such views are enslaving. You cannot help feeling sorry that he is chained in the thralldom of such idiocy.

He has been in the news in the last few days over his enunciation of the Harawira doctrine of marriage. Hone would not like his children to marry any white people. Now there is one aspect to this which is right on the money: parental consent to the marriage partners of their children is a worthy tradition and should be upheld.

It is a tradition which has long held sway in the Christian Church. But in the new humanity, being created in Christ, the rest of the Harawira marriage doctrine reflects the blindness and ignorance of an aeon long passed its use-by date. It is part of the sinful, old world which is passing away. The new humanity is united under the headship of Christ: every dividing wall has been broken down and taken away.

With respect to marriage, the concern which overwhelms all others is that Christians be not yoked together with Unbelievers. Race is irrelevant--as irrelevant as eye-colour, or hair colour. It is not a factor to be considered at all. It is true that cultural differences have some impact--but only insofar as the couple have to be aware that if they come from different cultures, their household cannot be divided against itself and a new, blended culture will have to emerge within the marriage. But that is simply part of two becoming one. Cultural differences are just one aspect of what will need to be adjusted and modified as the new home is formed.

In the anger, bitterness, and fractiousness of the old world, race matters. In the new world it does not. It is a beautiful thing to see interracial marriages in Christ. It is a powerful manifestation of the truth that in Christ there is no Greek and Jew, barbarian and Scythian, no slave and freeman--but Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 3:11)